Environmental Health – LWV DelCo Environmental Clearinghouse

Clean energy versus non-renewables: the fight goes on in Congress and the courts

The Trump administration’s anti-renewables policies have left gigawatts’ worth of new solar and wind projects strangled in red tape. So as Congress revisits energy-permitting reform, which it’s tried and failed to pass several times over the past few years, solar companies are taking a stand.

A Dec. 4 letter from 143 of those companies to congressional leaders takes aim at one Trump directive in particular: A July order from the Department of the Interior that requires its head, Doug Burgum, to personally approve every decision the agency makes on renewable energy. In the five months since that change, Burgum hasn’t signed off on any new solar projects on federal lands.

Lower Marion is first in PA to ban gas-powered leaf blowers

Lower Marion Township in Montgomery County will be the first municipality in Pennsylvania to totally ban gas-powered leaf blowers, starting in 2029. Here in Delaware County, Transition Town Greater Media is building awareness and community support before seeking similar restrictions.

Learn about DEP environmental grants: Maybe your project qualifies

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection administers 50 grant programs for environmental projects. 2025 grants are winding down, but you can get a jump on 2026-2027 grant requirements and qualifications. If you want to do something big or small to help the environment and you can get some financial help for your project, why not apply.

DEP to hold hearings on pollution permitting for three Delco facilities Dec. 1 and 2

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is holding three hearings, one on Dec. 1 and two on Dec. 2, regarding permits for Monroe Energy, DELCORA and PQ LLC. All three hearings concern the issuance of continuing Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT III) permits for the control of air pollution released from the facilities.

Phila. City Council Committee OKs bill to stop sending city trash to Reworld incinerator

To watch the hearing before the Philadelphia City Council environmental committee on a proposed bill to stop sending its trash to the reworld incinerator in Chester, click on read more.

Delaware Riverkeeper Network Files Legal Challenge to Gibbstown LNG Permit

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) has filed a legal challenge in the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey of the decision by Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to extend, for a second time, its approval for the construction of the proposed Gibbstown LNG Export Terminal project on the Delaware River in Gloucester County,
New Jersey.

Master Gardeners clean up plastic in Smedley Park to turn into benches

For those who take a seat on one of four benches that the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County have installed at Smedley Park, they’d likely never suspect that they’re sitting on thousands of pounds of recycled plastic bags, bubble wrap and stretchy plastic film.

Dear Penn America: Nobody wants your LNG Terminal

A liquid natural gas export terminal would not be welcome anywhere in southeast Pennsylvania, community and expert speakers told the PA House Environment and Natural Resources Protection Committee Nov. 5. Committee Chair Greg Vitali said he called the hearing because of the fear that the LNG project is advancing out of sight of public scrutiny.

The 2025 State of the Climate Report: The world on the brink

The world is hurtling toward climate chaos, according to a major new report published Oct. 29 by 13 prominent climate scientists in Bioscience, a forum of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now, and the window for mitigating the worst outcomes is rapidly closing, they warn.

Why billions of gallons of raw sewage keep flowing down the Delaware River

Billions of gallons of raw sewage continue to flow down the Schuykill and Delaware Rivers from Philadelphia and Camden due to storm overflow days every year, according to a new report by Penn Environment. Activists want something to be done about it.